Going to the Market
San Miguel doesn’t have 7-11’s with its distinctive logo,
window signage, gas pumps, organized shelves, coolers, pop machines and candy
displays. Instead, in our corner of the world we have home-grown, mom-pop
grocery stores called a Tienga. Most Tienga have a few square feet of display
space bulging with the basic food groups derived by the needs of the
neighborhood families. Others are larger with fresh produce brought in from
nearby farms on a regular basis and displayed in bulk in bins and shelves. In
our neighborhood it’s not unusual to see
a small table in the doorway of a home with cupcakes, fruit juices,
jello’s and a few other goodies that
were made by mom. |
Usually the only signage above the door in a Tienga might be a Pepsi-Cola or a fruit drink sign and a there might be a light bulb hanging above the door… if any. The interior is often dimly lit to conserve electricity and food goods are stacked in every possible shelf space. The basic food groups are represented but in smaller quantity than we see in the bigger stores… fruit, vegetables, canned goods, cereals, a limited dairy, a tray of baked goods and white bread, but plenty of pop, fruit drinks, and candy. Gotta have the sugar. The term “convenience store” definitely applies to these stores.
Usually the only signage above the door in a Tienga might be a Pepsi-Cola or a fruit drink sign and a there might be a light bulb hanging above the door… if any. The interior is often dimly lit to conserve electricity and food goods are stacked in every possible shelf space. The basic food groups are represented but in smaller quantity than we see in the bigger stores… fruit, vegetables, canned goods, cereals, a limited dairy, a tray of baked goods and white bread, but plenty of pop, fruit drinks, and candy. Gotta have the sugar. The term “convenience store” definitely applies to these stores.
Outdoor markets are very popular and fulfill a shopping and convenience
need in the various colonia. The outdoor markets take place along the main
street and usually consist of a couple of fresh vegetable and fruit stalls, families
selling “mom-made” homemade tamales, tacos, and chicken , used clothes and garage sale items from tires
to furniture.
The big outdoor market is the Tuesday market or La
Placita. It’s a flea market and swap meet of outdoor stalls selling
everything imaginable from food, used and new clothing, shoes, carpets, electronics,
power and hand tools, pirated DVDs and CDs, homeopathic supplements, 12 kinds of beans, 16 different chilies, song
birds in cages, meat, seafood, automotive goods from batteries to used cars to
trucks. It’s an overload of sights, smells, sounds, and non-tourista commerce. It’s the market to go
to every Tuesday.
The Mercado de Artesanías
is and enclosed market that extends for several blocks where one finds vendor
stalls of fresh food and flowers, sit down cafes, Talavera pottery, handmade jewelry, tapestries, tin lamps, hand
woven rugs, clothing, leather goods, Mexican art and paintings...all under one rood.
What fun it is to go shopping in these markets… they add to the
uniqueness and experience of living, or visiting this beautiful Mexican town.
Click Here to see market photos View the photos in slide show.
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